Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Sep. 30, 2013 DFL Portfolio item	Sep. 30, 2012 DFL Portfolio	Sep. 30, 2013 DFL Portfolio item	Sep. 30, 2012 DFL Portfolio	Apr. 02, 2013 HCR ManorCare	Sep. 30, 2013 HCR ManorCare item	Mar. 31, 2013 HCR ManorCare	Dec. 31, 2012 HCR ManorCare	Sep. 30, 2013 HCR ManorCare Minimum	Sep. 30, 2013 HCR ManorCare Maximum
Acquisition
Minimum lease payments receivable	$ 24,811,003,000		$ 24,811,003,000		$ 25,217,520,000						$ 23,700,000,000		$ 24,000,000,000
Rent receivable from triple-net lease with HCR ManorCare										506,000,000		489,000,000
Rate of increase in minimum lease revenue per year over each of the next 3 years (as a percent)											3.50%
Remaining specified period of the initial lease term during which the minimum lease revenue increases by a specified percentage per year											3 years
Rate of increase in minimum lease revenue per year for remaining years of lease term (as a percent)											3.00%
Number of asset pools											4
Rate of increase in rent receivable for first year of extension option (as a percent)											3.00%
Total initial available term of asset pools														23 years	35 years
Estimated residual values	4,010,514,000		4,010,514,000		4,010,514,000
Less unearned income	(21,828,165,000)		(21,828,165,000)		(22,346,641,000)
Net investment in direct financing leases	6,993,352,000		6,993,352,000		6,881,393,000	376,000,000		376,000,000
Properties subject to direct financing leases	361		361		361	14		14
DFL income	157,253,000	155,834,000	472,409,000	465,345,000		5,100,000	7,000,000	19,100,000	20,800,000
Cash proceeds from DFL portfolio						$ 6,100,000	$ 5,600,000	$ 17,600,000	$ 17,300,000